Anyone else starting curly girl method during lockdown?

[MoonBabysMagicalKalimba]

I started a few days ago, I figured if my hair looks crap at least no one has to see it. Got all my products, all silicone and sulphate free, and a silk bonnet to sleep in. Curls are looking ok but quite rats tail like. There’s still a little bit of frizz too.

I’m an every day hair washer, currently trying to get my hair to adapt to every other day but the on the second day it definitely looks greasy and limp. Very glad I don’t have to go anywhere or look presentable!

Is anyone else giving this a go, or done it in the past? How long does it take for the lovely curls to appear and stop looking like I’ve been dragged backwards through a hedge?!

@Rollerbird I definitely need to get a diffuser, I think it might help! I keep meaning to check if I've one kicking about somewhere or I'll have to order one

Anyone else having to wash every day?

Whenever I've done it, I've had to wash it again the next day. In normal times, I wash my hair every 5=8 days. Wash, dry, looks fine. But any CG = wash, housebound for hours because of wet hair, then looks shit the next day. I cannot begin to imagine how it's compatible with leaving the house.

I think the mistake a lot of people are making is not getting a diffuser! I never allow my hair to dry naturally (unless, as I think @BemidjiMinnesota says, it's outside in the hot sun) as I get flat roots and it takes hours. I don't have the time or the patience, especially as I don't like it. My hair is in great condition although dry as a bone.

I recently bought this hairdryer from Amazon as mine needed replacing; it's really good.

@MoonBabysMagicalKalimba you might find it easier to 'refresh' by washing and putting in your products then not drying before going to bed. Tie up in a ponytail or whatever, but it needs to stay damp. In the morning, spritz liberally with water, style by scrunching up and parting where you want, then dry. I've had good results with this method before.

My method/products in case anyone is interested:

1. Wash with this shampoo and this conditioner which are both CG approved. I love the shampoo but the conditioner is not as economical as I had hoped. I've used a lot more than I expected. Probably not great in a really hard water area

(I don't part my hair, but when I did, I would brush it to the part I wanted when loaded with conditioner and rinse out into that 'shape'. Then don't brush out of the parting, flinging head about is fine!)

1. Apply Cantu curl activator - liberally. I rake it through then use a Denman brush to make sure it's distributed evenly. I do this with my head forward. Scrunch and squish to re-form the curl clumps.

1. Plop for a bit, between 5 mins and whenever I take it off! Normally on the shorter side. I blot my hair a bit as well.

1. Apply mousse. I use this one from Superdrug which is better IMO than the Pantene one and cheaper! I use a lot, all over. Blot if my hair is feeling very wet.

1. Dry on high heat and speed with a diffuser. I never get a cast because I touch my hair too much - I have to, if I don't, my roots will never ever dry, so I kind of get my fingers in and shake them. Also scrunch the roots to encourage curl. This is my hair. I'm sure it could be shinier and have less frizz but I'd rather have volume and frizz than limp and shine which seem to be all my hair can do! I finish it off with this Superdrug wax which is no CG at all, but is the only thing that stops my hair from losing moisture and getting more and more massive and fluffy throughout the day. Which I don't hate, but can be annoying in humid weather!

Sorry for the MASSIVE info dump, but I've been CG (mostly) for coming up for 9 years so I've wanted to post but been too lazy to find links on my phone . Hope it's helpful to someone!

@TerrorWig that's really useful, I love reading different people's methods! I want to buy the protein mask recommended by @BemidjiMinnesota so I'll do a Superdrug order. I fancy trying some different mousse and feel I need something after to put on it to tame frizz!

I've ordered a hair dryer and diffuser, I think using straighteners for so long I just wanted to not use heat and also the diffuser takes me back to the late 80s/early 90s nightmare hair!! But I think without it I'm stuffed and can't go to work!

My refresh today was a bit better and didn't take long to dry. I made my hair wet by using a spray bottle then put cantu curl activator on, mixed with water. It's not fantastic but I could go to the supermarket without feeling too embarrassed!!

I just bought a diffuser attachment for my normal hair dryer

Thank you, @TerrorWig - very helpful. I'm 90% certain I had a diffuser with my hair dryer, but haven't a clue where it is. I know someone who wants a hair dryer, so will offload mine and replace it.

I will try mousse as well because I used to use that before hot brushing when my hair was too long to dry easily. Have put a CG approved one on my Tesco delivery.

@Rollerbird my hairdryer was on its last legs so I decided to go for a whole new one!

We had a fire pit last night but I didn't want to put products on and sleep on it as it's always awful in the morning. I just used some conditioner to wash my hair and shoved it in a towel. Couldn't believe how quickly it dried and how soft my hair is today. It looks bloody shocking but feels lovely 😂. I suppose it shows what products do.

I'm just tying mine back today, but tomorrow I'll have new stuff so will do -normal- new normal conditioner wash, custard gel scrunched through, plopping in T-shirt, mousse and diffuser drying.

I didn't get on with plopping. Just did co wash, custard, pat with t shirt, gel, diffuse until 85% dry, gel, diffuse. Sotc when totally dry.

I've tried without plopping, but it took forever to dry - my hair is almost shoulder length, so i guess I have more to dry than you, @Rollerbird. Hopeful that tomorrow will be easier with hairdryer.

It will look gorgeous once you hit on what works for you though @cynderella

My hair dryer is here!!!!

Yay! @justtakeatowel Now you will be able to get a hard gel cast!

Keep the hairdryer on low heat and low power, and try not to wave your hair around so much (some people advocate turning the dryer off every time they move it to a different position of their hair but who has time for that?)

I wish you beautiful, non Rod Stewart, hair.

How exciting @justtakeatowel - mine arrives tomorrow. Hoping that it will make a difference, but ready for disappointment! Hope you're pleased with your results.

It went a bit weird today, I'm wondering if it's the almond conditioner that I'm using as both times I've used it it's been odd. I also swept too much to the side and looks like I had a comb over .

I'm looking forward to trying it tomorrow. I remember back in the day I did fling it around lots, I will make sure that doesn't happen!!!!

A good diffuser was a total game changer with my curls. If I let my hair dry naturally it can take 6+ hours and my roots are totally flat.

I do the method where I put the diffuser in place switched off. I switch it on and dry that spot. Then I switch it off and move it to a new spot. I know it sounds faffy and time consuming but the results are SO much better for my hair.

@BluebellBrigade I think I need to practise as I look like a fluff ball today!!

Do I need any heat protecting spray?

I don't use any @justtakeatowel. I do make sure I use a low heat and speed setting though. Honestly, the difference in using that stop start technique is huge for me. It means the curl pattern isn't disturbed as it's drying.

Sigh. Eagerly awaited delivery of new hair dryer, having delayed washing for a couple of days. Did everything properly and used mousse. Took ages to dry, but obviously not as long as air drying, and I'm not sure it's much different.

But it's not frizzy and maybe, just maybe it's less straggly.

@BluebellParty my new hair dryer seems really hot and fast on the lowest setting. I wasn't very patient either, will keep trying to find a technique that works

I'm a bit happier with mine. I think the back looks better than the sides. Still wouldn't be happy going to work with it like this, and I'm not sure it's going to get better - maybe my hair doesn't have enough curl in it?

Had an awful hair day yesterday. The diffuser just made my hair so frizzy it was horrendous. I tried to do pixie drying but I'm wondering if my hairdryer is too hot as on the lowest setting it hurt my head!!!!

I'm going to try a rice water rinse today as I'm wondering if it's not got enough protein.

I realise I'm being impatient but I know I'm back at work June 1st so I need to find a way to wear my hair or I'll be straightening again. Hopefully this is just a hump I need to get over.

I've tried unsuccessfully to finger coil but will try again!!!!

After watching some videos by manes by mell on youtube (somebody up thread mentioned her) I've started alternating each wash between co wash and normal shampoo and using silicones and my hair feels so much better.

Still using a gel to create a cast and then scrunching it out, I think that's what makes the biggest difference.

My hair desperately needs a trim though, it is halfway down my back and the bottom two inches just go straight which makes it look straggly.

Rice rinse has definitely made my hair softer but the curl has gone!! Hopefully it'll come back. It's definitely bouncier